Saturday, October 30, 2010

If you haven't tried it yet, you might be surprised at how easy it is to sew up a t-shirt. Knit fabrics can be tricky to understand and it can be challenging to learn how to manipulate them. Once you learn that part, you can take off in garment sewing!

I am teaching a T-Shirt Class on Sunday, November 7th at Modern Domestic. Class meets 10am-2:30pm with a 30 minute break for lunch.Because there isn't usually homework between the sessions of the t-shirt class, I am able to offer this as a one-session class.

In class, you will learn how to handle knit fabrics so they lie smoothly during cutting, how to manage those pesky curling edges, how much to hem to prevent the hem from rolling up, as well as countless other tips for making drapey, silky smooth t-shirts. Many of the things you learn will also apply to heavier weight knit garments such as sweatshirts or yoga pants.

Who I am

I was born into a family of seamsters, and started sewing at age 4, in my grandma’s sewing room. All the women in my family sew, as well as some of the men, so it was easy and natural to learn. As I was growing up, my mom owned a business teaching children’s sewing, meaning there were always new and interesting projects to try. Most of all, I loved making my own clothes!

My love of sewing never faded, and I worked my way through college in the costume shop of the Theater Department at Willamette University. I learned about period costumes, improved my construction skills, and began designing costumes. As the manager of the costume shop, I was responsible for teaching the new student employees how to sew.

I began writing and publishing my patterns in early 2006, starting with the Farmer’s Market Tote. I will continue to write patterns that cater to beginners. By writing simple patterns with easy instructions, beginners have a fun time and more experienced seamsters have opportunities to embellish the projects.

My experience includes garment making, quilting, home décor, and costume design and construction. I have taught sewing to children, college students, and adults, all with great success!

When I am not creating something new in my studio, I am chasing after my toddler, reading with my almost-Kindergartener or experimenting in the kitchen.